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Articles by Simon Billing
Industrial manslaughter offence in Australia: A state-by-state analysis
New legislation has come into force expanding the imposition of harsh criminal penalties on corporations and officers that commit the offence of industrial manslaughter. In this briefing, we review the coverage and spread of industrial manslaughter laws in Australia and identify the potential implications for business. On 1 July 2024, new offences commenced for the industrial manslaughter of workers in South Australia, and for Commonwealth public workers.
Australia: Risky business - addressing psychosocial hazards in the workplace
Following recent changes in work, health and safety laws, employers are now required to take a proactive approach in managing psychosocial risks in the workplace. In this briefing, we unpack these changes and identify the implications for employers when they are not followed.
Closing loopholes: Critical changes to the employment relationship
On 26 August 2024, two significant changes come into force for the employers of casual workers and independent contractors. In this briefing, we break down the changes to casual employment and explain how the new definitions of 'employee' and 'employer' impact the characterisation of employment relationships.
Australia: Closing Loopholes - Wage Theft - A New Criminal Offence
From 1 January 2025 employers who intentionally underpay their staff will face criminal charges as a result of changes in the law brought about by the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023. In this article we discuss this new offence, how employers might prepare for this change and manage any risk.
Fair work legislation amendment (closing loopholes) Bill 2023(CTH) (FW CLH BILL)
The Commonwealth Government has tabled its Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 (Cth) (FW CLH Bill). The FW CLH Bill is the third instalment of the Government's industrial relations reforms, and like the earlier reforms proposes significant changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act). The FW CLH Bill has been referred to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, which is due to report back on 1 February 2024.
Creating a sustainable food future
Food retailers must invest more in sustainable options – or risk being left behind, writes Simon Billing, Executive Director at Eating Better The planet’s rising temperature is causing more extreme weather events, including deadly heatwaves, as well as species extinction, habitat loss and human displacement, to name a few. One driver of this warming is our current global food system, which is unsustainable, and is also damaging people’s health.
Cities commit to Planetary Health Diet policies
Last week, 14 global cities signed up to the C40 Good Food Cities Declaration, committing to promote the Planetary Health Diet. City mayors will work with their citizens and introduce policies to encourage more balanced, affordable and sustainable diets as well as reduce food waste. The signatories include: Barcelona, Copenhagen, Guadalajara, Lima, London, Los Angeles, Milan, Oslo, Paris, Quezon City, Seoul, Stockholm, Tokyo and Toronto.
Seaweed used as animal feed could tackle antibiotic resistance
As researchers found out ordinary brown seaweed synthesises a compound called phlorotannins. This substrate has the ability to kill a sort of bacteria that often emerge among farm animals living in confined space. Depending on the species of seaweed the different produced bactericides are less or more efficient in its medical power. Seaweed grows in the ocean and can be harvested from natural stock.
The rise of Red Pill Moments
Jonathan Wise discusses the potential impact of a fresh perspective on our daily lives – professional and highly personal.
Climate change forces Guatemalans to migrate
Drought and increasingly erratic weather patterns are forcing Guatemalans to abandon their homes and farms. Both small and large-scale farms are struggling to maintain productivity and economic viability, resulting in food shortages and loss of jobs. This means that other non-agriculturally employed Guatemalans are forced to relocate as well.
Malaysian government commits to maintaining forest cover and halting palm oil expansion
On 4th October, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok declared that Malaysia was over 50% forest, and it intends to stay that way. The Minister explained that the Malaysian government will not allow any further expansion of oil palm plantations in the country. In addition to her statement regarding expansion, Kok detailed the Ministry’s objective of achieving 100% Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification among existing producers by the end of 2019. So what?
What role can British farms play in protecting pollinators?
Recent studies suggest that around one third of the world’s food directly relies on pollination by bees and other insects. But bees, and in particular bumblebees, have seen their populations decline by 70% in the last few decades, with their survival threatened by widespread use of pesticides, climate change, disease and urbanisation. Farmers and farming communities are beginning to take up the mantle of stewardship and proactively protect pollinators in the agricultural landscape.
Drone pollinates New York apple orchard
For the first time ever an apple orchard was pollinated by a drone. Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard, in LaFayette, New York, commissioned a company called Dropcoter to pollinate a portion of its orchard. By harvest time they will be able to tell if the drone-pollenated plants returned a higher yield of apples compared to the rest of the orchard.
Why seaweed needs a sustainability standard
The seaweed buzz hit the Masterchef kitchen when a talented, health-conscious chef aced his first round dish, wowing the judges with a range of seaweeds gracing a cod cheek. Seaweed might be a novelty in the Masterchef kitchen, but its popularity is growing. Consumers and food businesses around the world, beyond traditional markets in Asia, are becoming increasingly aware of seaweed for its nutritional benefits, such as its high-quality protein and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
The new fish farming: three ways innovation could revive aquaculture
There’s no getting around it. The outlook for wild fisheries is bad. According to WWF’s Living Blue Planet Report, local and commercial fish populations declined by 50% between 1970 and 2012. While a number of factors have contributed to the deterioration of fisheries, including ocean warming and marine debris, overfishing has taken a massive toll.
Penalty, Ref?! No… FWC reduces Sunday and public holiday penalty rates in 6 modern awards
Penalty rates for irregular hours of work have become a hotly-contested issue in recent years. As the Australian economy continues to evolve into a ‘24/7’ service model, it has been argued that the system of penalty rates no longer reflects the reality of working arrangements in many industries. In this article, we examine the recent Fair Work Commission (FWC) Full Bench decision to reduce penalty rates for work on Sundays and public holidays in six modern awards.
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